Lexical Definition

‎πλήν‎ plḗn (plane) but/however ^G:CONJ
from ‎πλείων‎

but (rather), except, nevertheless, notwithstanding, save, than.

• moreover (besides), i.e. albeit, save that, rather, yet

Abbott-Smith

πλήν, adv., [in LXX for רַק, לְבַד, אַךְ, etc.;]
1. introducing a clause (= ἀλλά, δέ; "it is obvious that πλήν was the regular word in the vulgar language": Bl., § 77, 13), yet, howbeit, only: Mt 11:22, 24 18:7 26:39, 64 (M, Pr., 86), Lk 6:24, 35 10:11, 14, 20 11:41 12:31 13:33 17:1 18:8 19:27 22:21, 22, 42 (WH, mg. om.) 23:28, I Co 11:11, Eph 5:33, Phl 3:16 4:14, Re 2:25; π. ὅτι (Hdt., Plat., al.), except that, save that, Ac 20:23, Phl 1:18.
2. As prep., c. gen., except, save (cl.): Mk 12:32, Jo 8:10, Ac 8:1 15:28 27:22.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

πλήν,

Doric dialectand Aeolic dialect πλάν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: preposition with genitive, except, save, πάντων Φαιήκων πλήν γ᾽ αὐτοῦ Λαοδάμαντος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ὑπεγγύους π. θανάτου liable to any punishment short of death, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐπιτρέψαι περὶ σφῶν αὐτῶν π. θανάτου save in respect of death, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σκυλεύειν τοὺς τελευτήσαντας π. ὅπλων of anything save their arms, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; διαρπάσαι.. ἐπέτρεψε πλὴν ἀνδραπόδων to carry off all plunder save slaves, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 later, besides, in addition to, [LXX]
__B conjunction:
__B.I with single words and phrases, especially when a negative precedes, οὐκ ἆρ᾽ Ἀχαιοῖς ἄνδρες εἰσὶ π. ὅδ; [Refs 5th c.BC+]: after a question implying a negative, τί σοι πέπρακται π.τεύχειν κακ; [Refs 5th c.BC+] is sometimes omitted, θνῄσκουσι [πάντες] π. εἷς τις [Refs 5th c.BC+]: after a comparative, ταῦτ᾽ ἐστὶ κρείσσω π. ὑπ᾽ Ἀργείοις πεσεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]: after a superlative, τὸ μέγιστον εἴργται π. αἱ τάξεις τοῦ φόρου [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II frequently joined with other Particles:
__B.II.1 π. εἰ, π. ἐάν, ὅταν,
__B.II.1.a followed by a Verb, π. εἴ τις κωμῳδοποιὸς τυγχάνει ὤν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.1.b with Verb omitted, οὐδεὶς οἶδεν.., π. εἴ τις ἄρ᾽ ὄρνις [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. εἰ μή, after a negative, οὐδὲν προσδεησόμεθα, π. εἰ μὴ πάρεργόν τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.2 πλὴν ἤ (where ἤ adds nothing to the sense; πλὴν εἰ is a common variant), οὐκ ἄλλῳ π. ἢ Προδίκῳ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also οὐ τὸν ἄνθρωπον ὑγιάζει π. ἀλλ᾽ ἢ.. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.II.3 π. οὐ only not, πάντες προσδέχονται, π. οὐχ οἱ τύραννοι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.4 π. ὅτι except that.., save that.., καίτοι τί διαφέρουσιν ἡμῶν ἐκεῖνοι, π. ὅτι ψηφίσματ᾽ οὐ γράφουσι; [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πλήν γε ὅτι, πλήν γε δὴ ὅτι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; after ὁμοίως, τὰ αὐτά, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__B.II.5 π. ὅσον except or save so far as.., παρήκουσι παρὰ πᾶσαν [τὴν Λιβύην].., π. ὅσον Ἕλληνες.. ἔχουσι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II.5.b without a Verb, πάντων ἐρήμους, π. ὅσον τὸ σὸν μέρος save so far as thou art concerned, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τοὺς πολλοὺς ἀπέκτειναν π. ὅσον ἐκ τριῶν νεῶν οὓς ἐζώγρησαν except only.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.III introducing a clause, mostly preceded by οὐδείς, πᾶς, ἄλλος, save that, νῦν δ᾽ οὐδεμία πάρεστιν.., π. ἥ γ᾽ ἐμὴ κωμῆτις ἥδ᾽ ἐξέρχεται [Refs 5th c.BC+]: without any such word preceding, only, albeit, ἀπέπεμπε κήρυκας ἐς τὴν Ἑλλάδα, π. οὔτε ἐς Ἀθήνας οὔτε ἐς Λακεδαίμονα ἀπέπεμπε [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.III.2 to break off and pass to another subject, only, however, π. γνώριζε ἄτοπος ὤν [NT+3rd c.BC+]: in late Prose, π. ἀλλά [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__B.III.3 simply for δέ, but, πολλὴν στρατιὰν ἀθροίσας, π. ἄπειρον μάχης [Refs 2nd c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.Deut.18.8 ☩ 1Cor.11.11}